Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons^™

Conducting Effective Literature Searches And Writing Strong Abstracts, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

This invited presentation for students at Poland's War Studies University communicates ideas on how Ph.D. students at this institution can enhance their research quality. Specific content includes formulating your research question, determining research aims and methodology, reviewing a research question checklist, understanding the meaning of search terms you propose to utilize, devising effective search strategies, consulting multiple varieties of information resources from multiple countries, finding gaps in literature, being able to distinguish between nuances in literature and data, writing succinct abstracts, and enhancing the clarity of your prose.

Impact Of Hidden Populations Through Faculty Identification And Intervention In Higher Education, Jimmie K. Wetmore

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

College students who have endured trauma through experiences in the foster care system, homelessness, justice system involvement, poverty, violence, and/or abuse are at greater risk of not completing college and returning to the circumstances that perpetrated their initial traumas. These students are known as “hidden populations.” Mentorship and resources can help these students to break the social and economic cycles that have placed them in a high-risk category. Higher education faculty are in a unique position to help bridge the gap that exists for these students. The problem can be impacted by more faculty being aware of the population and …

Relational Pedagogy For Teaching The History Of American Religion In Collegiate Classrooms, Pearl Young

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

There is something odd about teaching religious history in collegiate classrooms. Most academic historians agree that religion is central to the history of any society, yet discussions of religious history or even religious culture are strikingly peripheral to historical narratives taught in college classrooms. Instructors frequently sidestep religion, deeming it too personal and divisive for an objective, scientific study so frequently associated with the academic field of history.

I argue that a more deliberate approach, one of relational pedagogy, overcomes these obstacles while recognizing the legitimacy of such concerns. This approach serves students well and can cover a breadth of …

Uncovering The Treasure Of Self-Directed Learning, W Alex Foxworthy, William "Bill" Mccarter

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

Self-directed learning enables students to take charge of their educational journey by selecting their own paths, thereby fostering intrinsic motivation. Traditional educational models often rely on extrinsic motivators like grades and rewards, whereas self-directed approaches emphasize personal satisfaction and curiosity. Review of existing research highlights how extrinsic rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation, leading to decreased academic performance and well-being. Herein we also present practical examples from classroom settings, demonstrating how real-world applications and student-led investigations can enhance engagement and learning outcomes. Additionally, we address the role of digital platforms in facilitating self-directed learning while noting the challenges of information reliability. …

Acompañamiento And Assessment: Examples Of Community Building Through Assignments In A First-Year Class, Shaianne Tran, Hector Amezola, Dalissa Rodriguez, Morgan Baird, Jennifer Fuentes Luna, Alejandra Vazquez, Fattemah Zia, David Peterson Del Mar

Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism

This collection of seven diverse assignments written by students from under-represented communities for a first-year inquiry class on immigration, migration, and belonging illustrates how instructors can facilitate a sense of belonging or acompañamiento through course assignments, assessment instruments. Each of the student authors provides a retrospective introduction on how their personal reflection, essay, or research project helped them to make personal connections within or outside of the class. The instructor provides a brief introduction to the concept of acompañamiento and why it is particularly important for New Majority college students.

Pols 322/622: Race And The Law: Report On Course Project Using Primary Sources From The Moakley Archive, Maye Henning

Suffolk University Archives OERs and Assignments

Professor Henning describes her (and her students') experiences using primary sources from the Suffolk University Archives. The Spring 2025 Race and the Law course (POLS 322/622) was an upper-division and graduate-level political science course designed to develop students’ research skills, particularly in locating, interpreting, and integrating primary and secondary sources.

The centerpiece of the course was a semester-long archival research project that culminated in a public exhibit in the display case outside of the Sawyer Library titled Resilience: Finding Power in the Voices of the Past.

Central Park 5~ Rape, Racism, & False Confessions, Harleigh D. Smith

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Racism is a predominant factor that has been induced and intertwined within the criminal justice system for decades. Racism also played a critical in many historical movements and protests throughout time, about the criminal justice system. “Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to physical appearance and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against others because they are of a different race or ethnicity.” Racism can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone, and that is what was used to falsely …

Exploring Student Perceptions Of Faculty Messages: The Moderating Role Of Internationalized Status And Gender, Geoffrey Luurs, Ismail Karabas, Brittany Wood

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Email is a tool used often for developing rapport between students and teachers. A professor’s email mistakes may affect the attributions students make about the professor’s competence and professionalism. This study used an experimental, between-subjects design to analyze the impact of professors’ typographical mistakes during initial email interactions and the moderating role of instructor demographics in those perceptions. The final sample consisted of 426 participants (64.6% female, 75.8% Caucasian) across eight universities representing five regions of the United States. The results of this study showed instructor’s email mistakes do lead to negative perceptions. Furthermore, it showed a professor’s internationalized status …

The Anatomy Of Toxic Leaders: Harris & Harken, Zainab Al

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project examines toxic leadership through two characters from the movie Horrible Bosses 2011 ): Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston) and Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey). Both characters display abusive leadership traits that harm their employees. Dr. Harris exploits her position of power to blackmail and groom her employee, Dale. Second, she takes advantage of the precarious position she s caught him in by blackmailing him to destroy the firing marriage he has lined up. Her record of toxic leadership includes bullying, corruption, and rampant misuse of power, contributing to a culture of fear and harassment Dave Harken, Nick s boss, …

Toward Ar Visualization Of The Fluid-Mosaic Model Of The Cell Membrane, Yoonwoo Lee, Allison Ost, Junghyuk Lee, Krisztina Z. Bencze

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Background: During the first semester of biochemistry experience, students focus on learning the structure and function of biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Visualizing these structures and understanding interactions between molecules helps students better understand biological function. A variety 3D visualization tools are available, ex. PyMol, Chimera, Avogadro, Blender. Within the past decade, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications gained more popularity. VR with its immersive visual experience is more sought-after, but the higher cost and the need for headset creates limitations in the classroom. AR visualizations are cheaper and more accessible, several publications report successful implementation …

Coding An Assignment Calculator Exclusively With Chatgpt, Andy Tincknell, Heather P. Vandyne, Lisa K. Bell

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Large Language Models like ChatGPT are influencing higher education and society in broader ways, including the coding and programming of applications and websites (Silva et al., 2024). This poster will profile how Forsyth Library, with no coders on staff, used ChatGPT to program an Assignment Calculator LibGuide without human coding. It details the process, challenges, and outcomes while highlighting AI’s potential to enhance resources for academic success and considers its efficacy and ethical implications.

Electrons Behaving Wave-Like (The Ramsauer Townsend Effect), Cesar Lionel Saavedra

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Using Ramsauer-Townsend Effect, we explored the wave aspect of electrons, we observed constructive interference of electron wave scattering from Xe atoms.

Doppler Free Laser Spectroscopy, Luis F. Ayala

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Using Doppler Free laser spectroscopy we observed ground state and excited state Hyperfine structure of Rb atoms Isotopes 85 and 87.

Toxic Leadership In Media: The Brash Bully And The Egocentric Pretender, Ayanna L. Journey

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project features a comparative analysis of two characters who demonstrate toxic leadership in unique ways. Sue Sylvester is the cheerleading coach from the show Glee. She is cruel, dominating, and paranoid. Ava Coleman is an elementary school principal on the show Abbott Elementary. Ava is incompetent, self-absorbed, and exhibits various inappropriate behaviors. In efforts to analyze their behaviors that contrast with those of an ideal leader, I view the characters through a scope of influence, power, identity, and follower relations, based on modern leadership concepts from “The New Psychology of Leadership” (Haslam et al., 2020). Sue’s style …

Sibling Rivals Fighting For The Same Thing, Amber D. Otten, Michael Pepper

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project ties concepts and dynamics of toxic leadership and how they can be effective and impact relationships through analyzing the behaviors, roles, and actions of Beth and Jamie Dutton. Beth and Jamie Dutton portray toxic leadership through their behaviors, actions, and their relationships with each other and others. Beth Dutton is an authoritative figure whose loyalty runs deep for her family and their ranch; she is assertive, brash, demanding, and her high intelligence and background are impactful for leading effectively to ensure her loved ones and the ranch are protected. Jamie Dutton, on the other hand, embodies a more …

Bridging Theory And Practice: Experiential Learning In Measurement And Evaluation, Emily Washburn, Brooke Befort, Haley Bertrand

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Experiential learning provides students with valuable opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. In HHP 340: Measurement and Evaluation at Fort Hays State University (FHSU), students engaged in hands-on application by designing and implementing an athletic combine. The combine featured a comprehensive battery of tests, including the 20-yard dash, vertical jump, wall sit test, medicine ball throw, 3-minute plank test, 5-10-5 pro agility drill, L agility drill, and standing broad jump.

A vital component of this initiative was a community partnership with advanced weight training students from Hays High School and Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. These high school …

Are The Vibrational Modes Of Molecules Quantized, Aniol Majoral Obradors

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In electron scattering from N2 molecules we observe quantized vibrational levels of N2-. These vibrational levels are well suited for energy calibration when electron transmission of unknown molecules is performed.

Power And Influence: A Media Analysis Of Toxic Leadership In Michael Scott & Jordan Belfort, Lily M. Garrison, Aidan Hammond

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

For our SACAD presentation, we were given the task of looking at and analyzing two toxic leaders from various types of media, this could be from books, movies, television shows, or video games. The purpose of this was to look at the various traits these people have that make them classified as toxic leaders. For our examples, we chose to analyze Jordan Belfort, specifically from the movie, “The Wolf of Wall Street”(M. Scorsese, 2013). As well as Michael Scott from “The Office”(A. Greene, 2005). The theme that connects these two is as simple as being business people, they are each …

Gender-Responsive Treatment For Girls And Women Within The Criminal Justice System, Kylie R. Huelsmann

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

There is a need for improved gender-responsive approaches for women and girls in the criminal justice system, especially for women of color and transgender individuals. Traditional programs built around men often neglect the unique challenges faced by these populations, such as substance use disorders, mental health conditions, trauma histories, and acting as caregivers. Women, in particular, experience higher rates of recidivism and barriers to successful reintegration. Trauma-informed and evidence-based programs that address mental health, addiction, and family support, ultimately lead to more effective rehabilitation and reduce recidivism for women and girls after adjudication.

Incrimination Of Carlton Lewis, Kaia L. Fox

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

On February 7, 1990, Cheryl Coleman was found dead in her apartment, sexually assaulted and beaten to death with a 2x4 piece of wood. Carlton Lewis became one the of few suspects in the case. Despite providing a statement that he was at his home at the time of the murder and the word of his wife, a suspect named William McKee was interviewed and said he saw Lewis go to a house on the corner of the street with Coleman. After McKee was interviewed, Lewis, who was illiterate at the time, was forced into a false confession by being …